The objective of this study is to evaluate the levels of emergency obstetrics care (EOC) signal functions in health facilities in a
developing setting with high maternal morbidity and mortality indices and to determine if there are differences between public
and private health facilities in terms of availability of these signal functions. A survey of health facilities was carried out in six of
the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kwara State Nigeria. All health facilities in these LGAs including public and private
health facilities offering some services to pregnant women were surveyed using an interviewer- administered, facility-assessment
questionnaire adapted from the WHO/UNFPA/UNICEF international guidelines for monitoring the availability and use of
obstetric services. Frequency tables, percentages and charts were used for presenting the data. Comparing public and private
facilities was done using chi-square tests. A total of 258 health facilities that provide maternal health services were surveyed in
this study, out of which 76 (29.5%) were private facilities and 182 (70.5%) were public sector facilities. Most of the UN
indicators were not met by the health facilities in Kwara state. The availability of EOC facilities was more among the private
sector and this was statistically significant. This study shows that all stakeholders involved in reducing maternal mortality have a
big challenge in the areas of availability, inequity in geographical distribution of EOC facilities and poor utilisation of these EOC
services by women.